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Virginia Wesleyan Hosts STEM Education Workshop
The three-part series is organized by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges
University News | January 14, 2019
Representatives from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges and its member institutions made a stop at Virginia Wesleyan on January 12 for part two of the VFIC STEM education workshop series.
Organized with funding from the Council of Independent Colleges and matching funds from the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund and an individual donor, the three-part series is focusing on curricular developments, pedagogical approaches, student-faculty research, and the design of facilities devoted to STEM education. Participants are discussing recent programs at VFIC schools, looking at new facilities and planning for future additions, and identifying areas that can benefit from VFIC support.
Host institutions were selected in part to highlight some of the recently completed facilities among VFIC institutions. The VWU workshop was held in the award-winning Greer Environmental Sciences Center and included an overview and tours for guests. Saturday's event was preceded by an October 12 meeting at Randolph-Macon College and will be followed by the final workshop at Mary Baldwin University on April 27.
Participating institutions formed teams made up of faculty and administrative staff, as well as a college or university representative familiar with planning and designing facilities, labs, and buildings on respective campuses. VWU participants included Chris Haley, Kenneth R. Perry Dean of the Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Professor of Earth Science, Katrina Henry, Assistant Professor of Physics and Earth and Environmental Sciences, Maury Howard, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Elizabeth Malcolm, Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and Chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bill McConnell, Assistant Professor of Education, and Maynard Schaus, Associate Provost and Dean of University College.
The workshops are meant to provide a foundation for a long-term initiative in this area, and an advisory group is expected to be formed in the near future.
The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges aims to advance the distinctive values and strengths of its 15 Virginia member colleges through financial support, increased visibility, facilitation of innovative and collaborative initiatives between the colleges, and support of endeavors that ensure personalized educational experiences remain an affordable choice for students.